Combined shelving and clothes bar apparatus

ABSTRACT

A combined shelf and clothes bar structure adapted to be fastened inside of various sized clothes closets. Support members for the shelf and clothes bar may be secured by mounting devices either to the sidewalls or back wall of the closet and the entire structure easily installed without the use of special tools.

United Staties Patent References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72]Inventors WalterJ.MacFarlane Kensington;

XXXXXXM.. .//33700 3822399H 0111//8 //ll. 00111001110 0 1.10221 .l 221|Examiner-James T. McCall Assistant E.\'aminer-Glenn O. Finch i PrimaryAltorney-Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond [54] COMBINED SHELVING ANDCLOTHES B APPARATUS 12 Claims, 1l Drawing Figs.

PATENTEU FEB 1 s mn SHEET 1 UF 3 E. SNB mmm m S TRTS DW ,NANI R fFF-E l?VMHR m WMRF. N IWF-D R N EMU FHM w AOD Vrh WJE '.M Vl B PAIENTEU m1 e mnSHEET 3 F 3l cw mma Mm l H I E YLZ D S N ,l l I MRS R ANI EFF-E 0 WMHR.U Wifi. IMD?. A JE D w m REN w 1 m ERU fr M UWM D wE V1 \.Ifo B oo v 5 4their The present invention `relates to a combined shelf and clothes barstructure for installation in various sized closets.

In private homes both new and used, and in hotels, there has been arequirement for a structure that can be readily installed in closetswithout special tools to provide strong and durable shelving and clothesbars. Various prior arrangements provided shelving difficult to installand Vadjust and without clothes bars strong enough to support heavyclothes bags and the like.

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the .priorstructures and provides a shelving and clothes bar structure simplysecured inside a wide variety of closets with the strength to supportsubstantial loadson'both the shelving and clothes bar. Moreparticularly, in `one embodiment of the invention, the structureincludes a pair of pin strips adapted to be mounted on the oppositewalls of a closet for supporting a shelf and a clothes bar adapted -tocarry` slidable glides. The pin strips are each provided with atleastone slot located along the approximate longitudinal centerlineithereof to receive a generally T-shaped support plate. Preferablyat leastone tab is formed on the plate to engage an edge of the slot andprevent upward movement of the plate. An opening formed in the lower endof the plate receives the end of the clothes bar, the

plate having oppositely directed tabs which can snap into keying slotslocated on the sides and near each end of the bar. A resilient tonguemay extend into each of the plate openings to engage the ends of thebar. resiliently and thereby form a secure and rattleproof assembly.

For longer shelving requiring additional strength, wall` bracketsupports are Vmounted on the back wall of a closet intermediate the pinstrips, these supports having a groove extending lengthwise thereof forslidably receiving a bracket a which is constructed and arranged tosupport the shelving and the clothes bar. Wall brackets can also be usedto support shelving and a clothes bar entirely from the back wall of acloset or can be used with the pin strips to support shelving and aclothes bar on an end wall and a back wall, when shorter shelves thanthe width of a closet are desired.

More particularly, typical wall` brackets for supporting shelving and aclothes bar'. may include atttheir upper edges spaced apart generallyparallel flanges to provide a groove for receiving the shelf endflanges, and may also be provided with a suitably positioned clothes barsocket. l

These and further advantages of the invention will be more readilyunderstood when the following description is taken in conjunction withthe drawings, in` which:V t

FIG. l is a perspective view of a shelving and clothes bar structureembodying the present invention and fastened to opposite walls of aclothes closet; il'

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. l; FIG. 3 is asectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; IFIG. 3A is'a sectionalview of a modified form of the emt bodiment of the present inventionshown in FIG. 3; l t Y F IG. 3B is a sectional view of another modifiedform ofthe embodiment ofthe present invention shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 4 isa perspective view of` a modified form of the shown). An upper supportplate 12 of each pin strip 6 is offset from the walls 2 to receiveV andsupport an end flange I4 of a t metal telescopic or expandable shelfunit I6. The front and secure the shelf to the ledge.

rear edges of the shelf unit 16 are provided with generally U- shapedflanges 18 including a downwardly bent vertical front portion 20, ahorizontal bottom portion 22 and an upwardly extending inner portion 24.One shelf element 16a is slidable or telescopically received in theother element l6b to enable the shelf to be extended or contracted tofit the closet space available. l a

To securely fasten aclothes bar 26 under the shelf I6, a head section28'of a downwardly depending T-shaped hanger plate 30 is inserted, byholding it at an angle, up through a slot 32 suitably located on the pinstrip 6 at the junction of its upper and lower sections to position theclothes bar 26 properly. The T-shaped plate 30 includes a lower section3l offset from a middle section 33 which is, in turn, offset from thehead section 28, all to the end that 'the hangar plate 30 fits the pinstrip 6 and rests against the closet sidewall and the shelving 16, asshown in FIG. 3. Tabs 33a are formed on the middle section 33 in anysuitable manner. Upper edges 33b of the tabs engage an edge of the slot32 when the plate 30 is rotated into position to prevent upward movementof the plate through the slot.

To receive Vthe clothes bar 26, formed by telescoping sections 26a and26b, the plate 30 includes a socket 34 in its lower section. The clothesbar 26 has agenerally inverted U- shaped cross section with downwardlyextending sides 36 provided with upwardly and inwardly bent lower freeedges. Each of the sides 36 has a notch 40 located near each end ofthebar 26. To mount the bar, the sides 36 are squeezed inwardly and thenthe end inserted intdthe socket 34. When the lower edges 36 arereleased, a pair of projections or tabs 38 on the hanger plate 30, thatextend into the socket 34, lock the bar against endwise movement byentering the notches 40. A resilient inclined tongue 4 may also belocated in the socket 34 (FIGS. 2 and 3) yieldably to engage the end ofthe bar 26 to lock it securely in the socket and prevent rattling.

ln the modification shown in FIG. 3A, a pin strip 6a is similar to thepin strip 6 shown in FIGS. l-3, but instead of supporting an expandablemetal wardrobe shelf, it can, with only slight alteratiomsupport woodenshelving. To this end, an upper support plate 12a includes a horizontalextension I3 that formsa supporting ledge for a wooden shelfl5. ScrewsI7 In the modification shown in FIG. 3B, the wooden shelf is.

v Vaffixed by screws 15a to one side ofran adapterangle l5b.With

this arrangement, the wooden shelf l5 can be mounted on the pin strip 6by positioning the angle 15b on the pin strip 6 with its other sideextending downwardly behind its upper support plate l2.

From the above description, it is apparent that the shelving and clothesbar can be readily installed without the use of spet cial tools in asecure and rattleproof manner.

present invention illustrating a center support for the shelving andclothes bar; l

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention installed on the back wall of a clothes closet; FIG. 6 is adetailed sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. S; t

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is asectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and FIG. 9 is a sectionalview taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 6. Referring toan exemplary embodimentof the invention in detail with particularreference to FIGS. l through3, when sidewalls 2 of a clothes closet 4 are available for mountingpurposes, pin strips 6 are provided for horizontal mounting on bothwalls of the closet by inserting screws or nails 8 through any holes 10in the pin strips which line up with wall studs (not Where the shelvesmust be erected against the face of a wall, wallbracket anchors 44 andsecured tothe back wall 46 of a closet, cupboard or the like as shown inFIGS. 5-9. T he extrusions. 44 are C -shaped in cross section, having anarrow front opening slot 52 extending lengthwise thereof (FIG. 9). Thegroove 53 rearwardly of the slot 52 receives a lobeor rib 50 (FIG. 7) atthe rear end of a wall bracket assembly 48 and the slot 52 slidablyreceives the thinner portions of the brackets adjacent to the lobe. Atab member 5l at the upper end of the anchor 44 engages the lowerl sideof the upper closure wall of the terminal end of the lobe 50 to preventbracket 48 from sliding out of the extrusion 44 and serves to takevertical loading of the bracket 48. The extrusions 44 are mounted on thewall by screws 55, the screw holes being inboard of the slotted groove53.

The wall bracket 48 is of two-plate construction welded together atpoints 56. Each plate 60 of the bracket 48 has an upper edge 62, a lowerinclined reinforced edge 64, a generally vertical front edge 66 and asocket 58 for-receiving an inverted U-shaped clothes bar 68'. A pair oftabs 70, which are formed in the plate 60 and extend into slots 69, arelocated near each end of the rod 68. The upperedges 62 of the plates 60are offset laterally from the body of the plates to form a groove 74 toreceive a shelf flange 75 on one end of a telescoping shelf unit 76.

The clothes bar 68 includes two U-shaped convexly arcuate lip portions68a defining a channel therebetween adapted to be spring open to receiveglides 80 FIGS. 6 and 8). Each of the glides 80, preferably formed froma low-friction synthetic plastic material such as nylon or high-densitypolyethylene, includes a head portion 8l from which depends a hangerportion 82 in the form of two oppositely facing hooks 83 to supportclothes hangers and the like.

For shelving having a longitudinal span of unusual length, midsupport isoften required for both the shelving and the clothes bar. FIG. 4illustrates another inventive embodiment employing pin strips 6 andT-plates 30 on the opposite sidewalls 2 of the closet 4, and an extrudedwall bracket anchor 44 and support assembly 48 on the back wall 46 ofthe closet 4. Shelf flanges 76 and 77 are received by the groove 74 andthe shelving is thus afforded midsupport (FIGS. 4 and 8). A pair oftwo-section telescoping clothes bars 68 also fit at their inner endsinto the sockets 58 to provide a longer spari for the clothes bar (FlG.8). v

lt will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modificationsmay be made to the present invention without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. Therefore the invention is not to be limited exceptas defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A combination shelf and clothes bar apparatus comprising:

a. shelving;

b. a clothes bar having first keying means at its ends;

c. a plurality of mounting devices each adapted to be fastened to avertical supporting surface;

d. supporting members carried by the mounting devices, said supportingmembers formed to support the ends of the shelving; and

e. attaching means carried by the supporting members, each of saidattaching means containing a socket, second keying means in the socket,and the ends of the clothes bar extending into the sockets with thefirst and second keying means cooperating to lock the bar in positionbeneath the shelving, wherein at least one of said mounting devicescomprises a lower section of a pin strip containing a series of holesthrough which fasteners are adapted to be inserted into the verticalsupporting surface, and the supporting member comprises an upper sectionof the pin strip that is offset inwardly from the lower section toreceive an end of said shelving, a slot located in the strip at thejuncture of the lower and upper sections, and said attaching meanscomprises a downwardly depending plate inserted through said slot, saidplate containing said socket in its lower portion.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim l, wherein the plate is T- shaped withits arms supported by the pin strip.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which at least one tab on theplate engages an edge of the slot to prevent upward movementof the platethrough the slot.

4. A combination shelf and clothes bar apparatus comprising:

a. shelving; y

i b. a clothes bar having first keying means at its ends;

c. a plurality of mounting devices each adapted to be fastened to avertical supporting surface;

d. supporting members carried by the mounting devices, said supportingmembers formed to support the ends of the shelving; and p e. attachingmeans carried by the supporting members, each of said attaching meanscontaining a socket, second keying means in the socket, and the ends ofthe clothes bar extending into the sockets with the first and secondkeying means cooperating to lockl the bar in position beneath theshelving, wherein at least one of said mounting devices comprises a wallbracket anchor having a channel extending vertically thereof, and thesupporting member carried by the wall bracket anchor comprises a brackethaving an upper section supporting an end of said shelving and a portionlocated at the rear of said bracket that fits said channel in the wallbracket anchor, said socket formed in the bracket and having the secondkeying means extending into said socket, the ends of the clothes barextending into the sockets withl the first and second keying meanscooperating to lock the bar in position beneath the shelving.

S. Apparatus as defined in claim l, in which a resilient tongue memberis located at the rear of said socket to engage the end of said clothesbar.

6. A combination shelf and ing:

a. telescoping shelving;

b. an extensible telescoping clothesy bar having an inverted generallyU-shaped cross section with keying slots at its ends;

c. a pair of pin strips each having a lower section containing a seriesof holes through which fasteners are adapted to be inserted into avertical supporting surface, an upper section of the strip offset fromthe lower section to receive an end of said shelving, anda slot locatedat the juncture of the lower and upper sections;

d. a downwardly depending T-shaped plate inserted through the slot ineach pin strip, said T-shaped plate containing a socket in its lowerportion, -a pair of first tabs extending into the socket, and the endsof the clothes bar being inserted into the sockets by squeezing itssides together which when released cause the tabsto enter the slots inthe ends ofthe bar to lock it in position beneath the shelving.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in'which a resilient tongue member islocated at the rear of said socket to engage the end of the clothes bar.

v8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein at least one second tab onthe plate engages an edge of the slot to prevent upward movement oftheplate through the slot.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the U-shaped clothes barincludes two substantially U-shaped convexly arcuate lip portionsdefining a channel therebetween, the edges of the lip portions lying ina common horizontal plane to support hanger glidesslidably carried inthe channel.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which a wall bracket anchorhaving a channel extending vertically thereof is fastened to a verticalsupporting surface, a bracket having a rear portion that fits the anchorchannel'to secure the bracket intermediate the pin strips, anuppervsection of the bracket suppoiting the shelving intermediateits'ends, a socket formed in the bracket, a pair of tabs extending intothe socket, keying slots in the clothes bar intermediate its ends, theclothes bar being received and locked in the bracket socket by the tabsand keying slots to support the clothes bar at a point intermediate itsends.

l1. ln expandable shelving apparatus, telescoping shelving,

a pair of pin strips each having a lower section containing a series ofholes through which fasteners are adapted to be inserted into a verticalsupporting surface, an upper section of the strip offset from the lowersection to receive an end of said shelving, and a slot located at thejuncture of the lower and upper sections adapted to receive selectivelya support device.

l2. Apparatus as defined claim l1, in which a support bracket adapted tobe fastened to a vertical supporting surface is located intermediatesaid pin strips and engaging said shelving to provide additional supportfor said shelving.

clothes bar apparatus compris-

1. A combination shelf and clothes bar apparatus comprising: a.shelving; b. a clothes bar having first keying means at its ends; c. aplurality of mounting devices each adapted to be fastened to a verticalsupporting surface; d. supporting members carried by the mountingdevices, said supporting members formed to support the ends of theshelving; and e. attaching means carried by the supporting members, eachof said attaching means containing a socket, second keying means in thesocket, and the ends of the clothes bar extending into the sockets withthe first and second keying means cooperating to lock the bar inposition beneath tHe shelving, wherein at least one of said mountingdevices comprises a lower section of a pin strip containing a series ofholes through which fasteners are adapted to be inserted into thevertical supporting surface, and the supporting member comprises anupper section of the pin strip that is offset inwardly from the lowersection to receive an end of said shelving, a slot located in the stripat the juncture of the lower and upper sections, and said attachingmeans comprises a downwardly depending plate inserted through said slot,said plate containing said socket in its lower portion.
 2. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1, wherein the plate is T-shaped with its armssupported by the pin strip.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in whichat least one tab on the plate engages an edge of the slot to preventupward movement of the plate through the slot.
 4. A combination shelfand clothes bar apparatus comprising: a. shelving; b. a clothes barhaving first keying means at its ends; c. a plurality of mountingdevices each adapted to be fastened to a vertical supporting surface; d.supporting members carried by the mounting devices, said supportingmembers formed to support the ends of the shelving; and e. attachingmeans carried by the supporting members, each of said attaching meanscontaining a socket, second keying means in the socket, and the ends ofthe clothes bar extending into the sockets with the first and secondkeying means cooperating to lock the bar in position beneath theshelving, wherein at least one of said mounting devices comprises a wallbracket anchor having a channel extending vertically thereof, and thesupporting member carried by the wall bracket anchor comprises a brackethaving an upper section supporting an end of said shelving and a portionlocated at the rear of said bracket that fits said channel in the wallbracket anchor, said socket formed in the bracket and having the secondkeying means extending into said socket, the ends of the clothes barextending into the sockets with the first and second keying meanscooperating to lock the bar in position beneath the shelving. 5.Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which a resilient tongue member islocated at the rear of said socket to engage the end of said clothesbar.
 6. A combination shelf and clothes bar apparatus comprising: a.telescoping shelving; b. an extensible telescoping clothes bar having aninverted generally U-shaped cross section with keying slots at its ends;c. a pair of pin strips each having a lower section containing a seriesof holes through which fasteners are adapted to be inserted into avertical supporting surface, an upper section of the strip offset fromthe lower section to receive an end of said shelving, and a slot locatedat the juncture of the lower and upper sections; d. a downwardlydepending T-shaped plate inserted through the slot in each pin strip,said T-shaped plate containing a socket in its lower portion, a pair offirst tabs extending into the socket, and the ends of the clothes barbeing inserted into the sockets by squeezing its sides together whichwhen released cause the tabs to enter the slots in the ends of the barto lock it in position beneath the shelving.
 7. Apparatus as defined inclaim 6 in which a resilient tongue member is located at the rear ofsaid socket to engage the end of the clothes bar.
 8. Apparatus asdefined in claim 6, wherein at least one second tab on the plate engagesan edge of the slot to prevent upward movement of the plate through theslot.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the U-shaped clothesbar includes two substantially U-shaped convexly arcuate lip portionsdefining a channel therebetween, the edges of the lip portions lying ina common horizontal plane to support hanger glides slidably carried inthe channel.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which a wall bracketanchor having a channel extending vertically thereof is fastened to avertical supporting surface, a bracket having a rear portion that fitsthe anchor channel to secure the bracket intermediate the pin strips, anupper section of the bracket supporting the shelving intermediate itsends, a socket formed in the bracket, a pair of tabs extending into thesocket, keying slots in the clothes bar intermediate its ends, theclothes bar being received and locked in the bracket socket by the tabsand keying slots to support the clothes bar at a point intermediate itsends.
 11. In expandable shelving apparatus, telescoping shelving, a pairof pin strips each having a lower section containing a series of holesthrough which fasteners are adapted to be inserted into a verticalsupporting surface, an upper section of the strip offset from the lowersection to receive an end of said shelving, and a slot located at thejuncture of the lower and upper sections adapted to receive selectivelya support device.
 12. Apparatus as defined claim 11, in which a supportbracket adapted to be fastened to a vertical supporting surface islocated intermediate said pin strips and engaging said shelving toprovide additional support for said shelving.